The study of a language other than English contributes to the overall education of students, most particularly in the area of communication, but also in the areas of cross-cultural understanding, cognitive development, literacy and general knowledge. It provides access to the culture ofcommunities which use the language and promotes understanding of different attitudes and values within the wider Australian community and beyond.

The study of Indonesian develops students’ ability to understand and use the language of a country which is one of Australia’s closest neighbours and is one of the most populous countries in the world. Links between Australia and Indonesia have been strengthened in recent decades, in particular, in areas such as business, tourism and education. The study of Indonesian promotes the strengthening of these links. The study of Indonesian also has a broader application in that it is closely related to Malay, and is understood in Malaysia and by Malay-speaking inhabitants of Singapore and Brunei.

Students may wish to study Indonesian as an academic subject for educational purposes or link this study to other areas of interest. Many tertiary institutions provide pathways for further study of Indonesian and Indonesian studies.